Coding and decoding machine



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Patented May 10, 1938 UNITED. STATES PATENT OFFHCE CODING AND DECODING MACHINE ration of New York Application October 24,

10 Claims.

This invention relates to the art ofsecret writing and more particularly to a system for transforming language messages into decodable secret code.

This invention is an improvement of the coding system disclosed in the copending application Serial No. 81,178, filed May 22, 1936. Briefly, the invention described in the said application relates to a system in which the coding circuits between an operating machine and a translating machine are transposed at irregular and arbitrary intervals, and also in which the sequence of connections to the coding commutator segments may be varied automatically in an arbitrary manner. Checking and locking circuits are provided so that during the typing cycles the carriage return mechanism is locked and after typing a predetermined number of characters, the character keyboard is locked and the carriage return mechanism is released. If all the control units failed to respond properly, error detecting circuits are energized to prevent the releasing of the carriage return mechanism. Circuits are also provided to lock the keyboard and carriage return upon completion of typing a group of lines of predetermined copy and a test key operation is necessary to return the carriages automatically to the left margin position. The carriages are returned if the control units function correctly and a recording of a symbol at both units is made which indicates the correct functioning of the units. If an error was made in the functioning of the control elements during the said group of lines, an error key operation is necessary which causes the coding control units to be realigned to the last test position. If, as mentioned, the control units operated correctly and operation of the test key indicates this condition, additional control units are actuated, which, if an error has been made by the control units, are not operated. Other features will be disclosed during the description of the said invention, one of which is the automatic homing circuits for the coding control units which are energized upon operation of a reset key to realign all the coding control ele ments to a normal reference point.

The present invention relates to an improvement of the invention referred to in said application. It was mentioned that in the system of the said application automatic homing circuits were provided to return the coding control elements to a normal reference point. The present invention proposes to automatically change the normal reference point upon operation of the reset key so that the coding control elements do 1936, Serial No. 107,306

not start from the same reference point and therefore during the coding cycles the irregular and arbitrary operation of the control units varies for each message, the typing cycle for which was begun upon resetting of the control elements. The object of the present invention is to prevent repetition of cycles on the coding pattern for different individual messages, so that upon comparison of the individual messages no clue can be obtained as to the manner of the cyclic operation of the system.

Various other objects and advantages of the invention will be obvious from the following particular description of one form of mechanism embodying the invention or from an inspection of the accompanying drawings; and the invention also constitutes certain new and useful features of construction and combination of parts hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the power operated coding control elements.-

Fig. 2 is a detailed view of the coding commutator control device.

Fig. 3 is a detail of one of the control elements of the commutator control device.

Figs. 4 to 8 inclusive show the construction of the coding commutators.

Fig. 9 is a detailed contact arrangement of the coding commutator control device.

Fig. 10 shows the brush arrangement of the coding commutators.

Figs. 11 to 13 show in detail the clutch control units.

Fig. .14 is a fragmentary, sectional elevation illustrating a portion of a power operated typewriter including certain control features.

Fig. 15 is a detail view of the carriage contact bar and brush arrangement.

Fig. 16 is a detail view of the keyboard locking arrangement.

Figs. 1'7 and 17A to D show the circuit arrangement for controlling the coding control elements.

Fig. 18 shows the correct figure layout for Figs. 17, 17A to D.

Fig. 19 shows the correct figure layout for Figs. 20, 20A to 20D.

Figs. 20, 20A to 20D show a preferred arrangement of the typing circuits for coding and decoding operations.

Fig. 21 is a layout of the plug arrangement for the coding commutator control device.

The illustrative embodiment of the invention includes two typewriters to be interconnected for coding purposes. The apparatus is effective,

when the uncoded message is typed, to produce both a correct writing of the copy and a writing of the same message in code, and, when the coded message is typed, to produce a correct writing of the code message for comparison with the copy and a correctly typed translation of the code message. To present the invention as briefly and concisely as possible, the independent control units of the system will be described first and followed by a description of the circuit arrangements and operation of the system.

Recording units The system as illustrated herein comprises a primary typewriter, upon which the messages to be translated are typed and recorded and may be designated as the operating unit, and a secondary typewriter or translating unit for translating and recording messages typed on the primary or operating unit. Any standard typing unit may be used; however, it is preferred to employ the electromatic type. Said units comprise a revoluble platen l mounted in the frame of a carriage 2 which is mounted for movement transversely of the frame 3 of the machine on anti-friction bearings 4 arranged in guideways provided therefor in the carriage and frame of the machine, (refer to Fig. 14).

Type bars 5 are pivoted in a type basket 6 in the frame of the machine and are provided with types 1 adjacent their free ends adapted to engage the platen or the work sheet thereon when the type bars are swung on their pivots. Power driven devices are provided for operating the type bars or other printing instrumentalities of the machine. Said devices comprise actuators in the form of bell crank levers 8 pivoted on a common pivot rod 9 and having one arm connected with an arm of a bell crank lever H by means of the link I2. The bell crank lever l I is pivoted on the common pivot rod l3 and its other arm I4 is connected with the-free end of a toggle lever l5 by means of a link H]. The lever I5 is pivoted to the arm l6 of the type bar, and at its other end-is pivotally connected with the free end of a toggle link I! pivoted on a fixed part of the frame. A spring l8 connects the arm l4 of the bell crank with a fixed part of the frame and resiliently maintains the parts in the normal position as shown in the figure of the drawings, in which the type bar is retracted and the toggle l5, I1 is in straightened position. When the actuator lever 8 is swung to pull the link l2, it operates to swing the lever 15 in a direction to break the toggle and swing the type bar into printing engagement with the platen.

The bell crank 8 has an arm I9 projecting downwardly on the free end of which a cam 2| is revolubly mounted adjacent to the surface of a power driven roller 22. A spring-pressed arm 23 engages a lug 24 on the cam and tends to swing it on its pivot into engagement with the roller or a projection 20 thereon into engagement with a stop 25 on a detent lever 26 pivoted on the bell crank 8. At its upper end, the lever 26 has a lateral projection whereby it is engaged by the slotted end of an arm 21 projecting downwardly from a key lever 28.

The key lever is pivoted on the common pivot rod [3 and has a key 29 whereby it may be manually operated. A spring 30 connects the key lever with a fixed part and resiliently maintains the key lever and parts connected therewith in the normal position as shown. When the key is depressed, it swings the detent lever to move its stop 25 out of the path of the projection 20 and permits the cam to turn under the action of the arm 23 into engagement with the roller. The cam is then rotated by the roller and swings the lever B to swing the bell crank II, which swings the type bar into engagement with the platen. When the type bar is actuated to print, it engages the universal bar 3i to release the escapement mechanism, shown generally at 32, of the carriage 2. The parts thus far described are, 01' may be, of usual construction and form no part of the present invention except as they enter into combination therewith.

Attached to the rear section of the carriage 2 is a transverse bar 33 preferably of insulating material, the said bar is adapted to extend the entire length of the carriage. Superimposed thereupon is a conducting bar or segment 34 having a plurality of slots 35 formed therein to expose sections of the insulating member 33 as shown in Fig. 15 of the drawings. A pair of brushes 36 supported in a fixed bracket 31, which is attached to and supported by the frame of the typewriter, are adapted to cooperate with the contact bar 34. The slotted or insulated sections of the contact bar are so arranged that when the typewriter carriage is positioned to start typing on the work copy, that is, when the carriage is at the left margin position, the slot 35 is positioned so that one of the brushes 36 engages the insulated section 33.

Similarly, after the typing of a number of characters, or signs, for example 45 characters, the slotted section 35a will be positioned so that one of the brushes 36 engages the insulated section 33 and likewise after typing an additional number of characters, again, for example, 8 characters, or signs, the slotted section 35b will be positioned so that one of the brushes 36 engages the insulated section 33. Therefore, it will be understood that the carriage position at the left margin position or after typing 45 or 53 characters or signs is effective to open the circuits connected to the said brushes. It is to be noted that the carriage position contact arrangement is provided on both the primary or operating unit and the secondary or translating unit, the purpose of which will be understood as the description progresses.

Attached to the free end of arm [9 of bell crank lever B is a bracket 38 supporting a follower roller 39 which is adapted to actuate the spring blade of suitably positioned contacts 46 or 4i to close said contacts when the said cam 2|, controlled by a corresponding key 29, is released and actuated by the power driven roller 22. The single and double types of contact arrangements are shown cooperating with the said roller 39 for the reason that certain keys upon their depression control several different circuit arrangements which will be explained later herein.

Provision is made to operate the key bars 28 automatically by the solenoids 42 supported by the frame of the unit which are connected to the key bars by links 43. It is also desirable to provide means for looking all the keys against depression except the key bar depressed. To this end, a slotted trough or member 44 is arranged beneath the keyboard section of the unit. Arranged in the trough is a plurality of rollers 45.

The combined diameter of the rollers 45 is such that they contact each other and the ends of the trough when a key bar is depressed and inserted between two adjacent rollers. It will be 

